Pelicans forward Javonte Green will join his fourth NBA team in six seasons after he agreed to a contract buyout and intends to sign with the Cavaliers upon clearing waivers, Shams Charania reports.
Green entered the league during the 2019-20 season and has played for the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and Pelicans.
Shams says: “The expected deal provides additional wing depth for the Eastern Conference-best Cavaliers, and it comes after they landed forward De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks in a trade for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, future second-round picks and pick swaps at the deadline.”
In New Orleans’ final game before the All-Star break, he played a season-high 34 minutes, scored nine points, seven rebounds, two assists and five steals against the Kings in an overtime win. Green was playing in place of Zion Williamson, who was resting.
Green joined the Pelicans as a free agent in August and has averaged 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 50 games and 18 starts for the franchise this season.
He always been a secondary contributor during his career and has averaged 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.7 assists in 245 games.
The Cavaliers are looking to clinch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference as they are 5.5 games ahead of the defending champs – the Celtics.
Green will certainly look to provide some playable depth and some cover if players do go down with injury at the back end of the season.
He may also be able to take advantage of the spacing that comes when Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley draw the defensive attention of the opponents.
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